Controlled deposition and alignment of carbon nanotubes

• US 7,491,428 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2003
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture, United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Ingram, JoAnne L., Smits, Jan M., Watkins, Anthony Neal, Wincheski, Russell A., Jordan, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLETCHER III, WILLIAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/730,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20040228961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 427/458
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/08 Aligned nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/15 Nano-sized carbon materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/75 Single-walled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/842 for carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/882 Assembling of separate components, e.g. by attaching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/883 Fluidic self-assembly, FSA

Abstract

A carbon nanotube (CNT) attraction material is deposited on a substrate in the gap region between two electrodes on the substrate. An electric potential is applied to the two electrodes. The CNT attraction material is wetted with a solution defined by a carrier liquid having carbon nanotubes (CNTs) suspended therein. A portion of the CNTs align with the electric field and adhere to The CNT attraction material. The carrier liquid and any CNTs not adhered to the CNT attraction material are then removed.

Claims

1. A method for the deposition and alignment of carbon nanotubes, comprising the steps of:

providing an assembly that comprises a substrate having at least two electrodes supported thereon and opposing one another with a gap region being defined therebetween;

depositing a carbon nanotube (CNT) attraction material on said substrate in said gap region;

applying an electric potential to said two opposing electrodes wherein an electric field is generated across said gap region;

wetting said CNT attraction material with a solution defined by a carrier liquid having carbon nanotubes (CNTs) suspended therein, wherein a first portion of said CNTs are aligned with said electric field and adhered to said CNT attraction material, and wherein a second portion of said CNTs are not adhered to said CNT attraction material; and

removing said carrier liquid and said second portion of said CNTs from said assembly;

wherein said CNT attraction material is a self-assembled monolayer.

2. A method for the deposition and alignment of carbon nanotubes, comprising the steps of:

providing an assembly that comprises a substrate having at least two electrodes supported thereon and opposing one another with a gap region being defined thereberween;

depositing a carbon nanorube (CNT) attraction material on said substrate in said gap region;

applying an electric potential to said two opposing electrodes wherein an electric field is generated across said gap region;

wetting said CNT attraction material with a solution defined by a carder liquid having carbon nanotubes (CNTs) suspended therein, wherein a first portion of said CNTs are aligned with said electric field and adhered to said CNT attraction material, and wherein a second portion of said CNTs are not adhered to said CNT attraction material; and

removing said carrier liquid and said second portion of said CNTs from said assembly;

wherein said CNT attraction material forms at least one hydrogen bond with a sidewall of each CNT from said first portion of said CNTs.

3. A method for the deposition and alignment of carbon nanotubes, comprising the steps of:

providing an assembly that comprises a substrate having at least two electrodes supported thereon and opposing one another with a gap region being defined therebetween;

depositing a CNT attraction material on at least portions of each of said two opposing electrodes and on said substrate in said gap region between said portions of each of said two opposing electrodes;

applying an electric potential to said two opposing electrodes wherein an electric field is generated across said gap region;

wetting said CNT attraction material with a solution defined by a carrier liquid having CNTs suspended therein, wherein a first portion of said CNTs are aligned with said electric field and adhered to said CNT attraction material, and wherein a second portion of said CNTs are not adhered to said CNT attraction material; and

removing said carrier liquid and said second portion of said CNTs from said assembly;

wherein said CNT attraction material is a self-assembled monolayer.

4. A method for the deposition and alignment of carbon nanotubes, comprising the steps of:

providing an assembly that comprises a substrate having at Least two electrodes supported thereon and opposing one another with a gap region being defined therebetween;

depositing a CNT attraction material on at least portions of each of said two opposing electrodes and on said substrate in said gap region between said portions of each of said two opposing electrodes;

applying an electric potential to said two opposing electrodes wherein an electric field is generated across said gap region;

wetting said CNT attraction material with a solution defined by a carrier liquid having CNTs suspended therein, wherein a first portion of said CNTs are aligned with said electric field and adhered to said CNT attraction material, and wherein a second portion of said CNTs are not adhered to said CNT attraction material; and

removing said carrier liquid and said second portion of said CNTs from said assembly;

wherein said CNT attraction material forms at least one hydrogen bond with a sidewall of each (TNT from said first portion of said CNTs.